U.S. inflation · 1973–2012
$100 in 1973 has the same buying power as
$517
in 2012
| Cumulative price change | 417.1% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 4.30% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $517 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $417 |
| CPI in 1973 | 44.4 |
| CPI in 2012 | 229.594 |
| Inflation in 1973 | 6.22% |
| Inflation in 2012 | 2.07% |
| $100 in 1973 → 2012 | $517 |
| $100 in 2012 → 1973 | $19.34 |
Between 1973 and 2012, the Consumer Price Index went from 44.4 to 229.594. Cumulatively, prices increased 417.1%, which works out to an average of 4.30% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1973 bought what $0.19 buys in 2012.
| Amount in 1973 | Value in 2012 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $5.17 |
| $5.00 | $25.86 |
| $10.00 | $51.71 |
| $20.00 | $103 |
| $50.00 | $259 |
| $100 | $517 |
| $500 | $2,586 |
| $1,000 | $5,171 |
| $5,000 | $25,855 |
| $10,000 | $51,710 |
| $100,000 | $517,104 |
| $1,000,000 | $5,171,036 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1973 spending costs in 2012, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1973 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 4.30% | $517 |
| Medical care | 6.26% | $1,069 |
| Energy | 5.60% | $837 |
| Housing | 4.42% | $541 |
| Transportation | 4.36% | $528 |
| Core (all items less food & energy) | 4.23% | $504 |
| Food | 4.13% | $485 |
| Apparel | 1.73% | $195 |
Not shown because the BLS began these indexes after 1973: recreation (1993–), education & communication (1993–).
| Year | CPI | Inflation rate | $100 from 1973 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | 44.4 | 6.2% | $100 |
| 1975 | 53.8 | 9.1% | $121 |
| 1977 | 60.6 | 6.5% | $136 |
| 1979 | 72.6 | 11.3% | $164 |
| 1981 | 90.9 | 10.3% | $205 |
| 1983 | 99.6 | 3.2% | $224 |
| 1985 | 107.6 | 3.6% | $242 |
| 1987 | 113.6 | 3.6% | $256 |
| 1989 | 124 | 4.8% | $279 |
| 1991 | 136.2 | 4.2% | $307 |
| 1993 | 144.5 | 3.0% | $325 |
| 1995 | 152.4 | 2.8% | $343 |
| 1997 | 160.5 | 2.3% | $361 |
| 1999 | 166.6 | 2.2% | $375 |
| 2001 | 177.1 | 2.8% | $399 |
| 2003 | 184 | 2.3% | $414 |
| 2005 | 195.3 | 3.4% | $440 |
| 2007 | 207.342 | 2.8% | $467 |
| 2009 | 214.537 | -0.4% | $483 |
| 2011 | 224.939 | 3.2% | $507 |
| 2012 | 229.594 | 2.1% | $517 |
Long periods are sampled every 2 years; the calculator above covers any pair of years.
MLA: “Inflation from 1973 to 2012: $100 is worth $517 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1973-to-2012/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1973 to 2012. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1973-to-2012/
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, CPI-U annual averages (series CUUR0000SA0; category indexes listed on the data sources page). See how these numbers are calculated.